Burkina Faso's military leader, Ibrahim Traore, stated in a lengthy interview on state television that the country's people need to "forget" about democracy. He referenced Libya as an example where outsiders allegedly attempted to "impose democracy" but failed. Traore declared, "Democracy isn't for us," and added, "Democracy kills," according to reports, taking a firm stance against the political system.

This marks the latest sign of Traore's government distancing itself from initial promises to restore democratic governance. Traore seized power in September 2022, eight months after a prior military coup he was involved in. The government had initially pledged to hold elections in 2024 but later reneged, citing security concerns as a reason for delay.

In January, Traore's administration dissolved over 100 political parties in Burkina Faso and seized their assets. Additionally, parliament and all political activity were suspended, and the Independent National Electoral Commission was disbanded in July 2025. Analysts have raised concerns about the government's apparent targeting of other institutions, including the media and judiciary.

In recent months, journalists, political opposition leaders, and prosecutors critical of the military government have been forcibly conscripted and sent to the front lines, with some later released. Similar moves against political parties have been taken by neighboring military governments in Niger and Mali, which are also combating armed group violence.

All three countries exited the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc and formed their own Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in January last year, following pressure to hold elections. They have also turned to Russian paramilitary support after evicting former colonial power France, which had deployed approximately 5,000 troops to assist in fighting armed groups in the Sahel region.

Violence continues to plague Burkina Faso, with fatalities tripling in the three years since Traore took power, reaching 17,775 by last May. This represents a sharp increase compared to the previous three years, when combined recorded deaths were 6,630. Most of those killed were civilians, many by government forces and allied militias.

Source: www.aljazeera.com